Kathmandu. Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has provided 20 satellite phones to facilitate communication in flood-affected areas.

The NTA has handed over the phones that it received as disaster assistance from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

Out of the available phones, 10 have been sent to Rasuwa and 10 to Nuwakot. These satellite phones can be used for free for the next three months.

It is expected that its use would be effective during disaster as the telephone and SMS services can be operated through satellite even in remote areas where the telecom network is not accessible or not reached.

It is believed that the use of satellite phone would help make rescue, relief and disaster management works more effective by maintaining communication communication in flood-affected areas.